ICC's decision to change ODI rules vindicates Dhoni

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) ratification of the new ODI rules from July 5 will not just come as a big relief to fielding captains all over, but will be seen as a big victory for India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The International Cricket Council's (ICC) ratification of the new ODI rules from July 5 will not just come as a big relief to fielding captains all over, but will be seen as a big victory for India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The 2011 World Cup-winning skipper has been a vehement critic of the rule which stipulates that there can be only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle in the last 10 overs. India bowlers struggled to restrict opposing batsmen in the death overs.

"It's my personal opinion, I would like them to change it. In the history of cricket, we have not seen double hundreds in ODIs and now in three years' time you see three double hundreds (actually six) being scored," Dhoni said during the World Cup.

The key changes will include the removal of the batting powerplay, close catchers not being allowed in the first five overs besides any kind of no-ball leading to a free hit. The changes were okayed by the ICC executive committee headed by Anil Kumble.

The rule changes are expected to bring some sanity as far as runaway scores are concerned. Dhoni had slammed the earlier rules: "Let's not make the 50-over game like T20 because even a lot of sixes and fours also makes it very boring. The essence of ODI cricket is how you bat from the 15th over onwards until maybe the 35th over."